SDS (Supercell Dewvoid Syndrome)

I knew I was in trouble last night when I was watching the water rotate as it escaped down the drain into the garbage disposal, and I shouted... "A WATER SPOUT!" Yep, SDS (Supercell Dewvoid Syndrome) is hitting me hard this year... unfortunately, it generally sticks with me year-round because the way my storm chasing goes, I am either not seeing anything nearby, or my life circumstance at the time of occurence doesn't support a chase. For instance, while I was chasing the sunset and some dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico... ... and "tornado" was spotted and warned back home. It turns out that the tornado was just a downburst, so whew... I didn't miss anything. The time we had a tornado warning with what had just been an EF3 in Boston (Georgia, that is) that was headed right toward us, it was the middle of the night, and I was charged with keeping Mini-Dew safe over seeing what was coming. The rotation passed within a mile south of us. I hate night events. High risk event in SD, while filming a storm chasing show, yeah, one doggone tornado, and we missed it. So, yep... permanent SDS for me, but in my heart, I'm chasing naders.

Have a great day!
~Dewdrop

Close, but no cigar

I reconnected with my husband's cousin yesterday, which reminded me of one of my favorite days in weather. It was during a trip I took with my wonderful groom down to Miami for his cousin's wedding. Of course, being in the place where he grew up, he took me to all the places he remembered from when he was a child, and we explored some of the geeky tourist attractions. It was after visiting the National Hurricane Center and while we were exploring Key Biscayne, that I discovered something spectacular in the sky and begged him to "PULL OVER!" with jaw dropped and arm outstretched, pointing toward the sky. There it was, clear as day (not a clear day), a powerfully rotating column of air in the sky!!!Storm Report for June 13, 2008
It was actually reported as a water spout that went ashore. Thanks to a ridiculous amount of curves and palm trees, my view of the best part was obscured, but I saw it reaching down further than in the picture. Unfortunately, this is all I got. What a day though!!! The only other times that compare would be early on while sitting by a field with my boyfriend back in 1989 watching as the skies churned and dropped funnel clouds, 3 tornadoes were reported on that October 1st, causing damage even as close as outside the video store we were holed up in during the worst of the storm.

Conyers-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Georgia state average. It is 89% greater than the overall U.S. average.
OCT 01, 1989 030 1806 F2 247
OCT 01, 1989 031 1830 F1 247
OCT 01, 1989 032 1844 F2 247

The next time was also in June, but it was in 2007, when I was with Peg and Mel and the crew trying to chase naders. We came across a wicked low precip supercell near Murdo, SD, which dropped several needle funnels as we sat and watched. It never dropped anything more substantial for us, but the same system did produce a very picturesque tornado over the Badlands, which we had just passed.

Ahh, yes, SDS is bad.
~Dewdrop

The grips of SDS

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Welcome all sky fans!!! I truly appreciate your visit and comments. I might not have time to respond to you, but I will try my best to visit!!!

Our hosts: Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Thanks, also,to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us!
I'm so tired of talking about the cold. It's there. It will continue to be there after today. My toes are numb, my fingers feel brittle. I'm running out of winter wear. (My sweaters have to be dried flat.) As a result, I have posted a June shot of yummy juicy boiling cumulus clouds in a nostalgic black and white, remembering the fonder days when Jack Frost wasn't nipping at my nose, and moisture, lift and instability combined in delightful ways to entertain me... Yes, folks, my SDS is bad. What's SDS? Ahhh, it's a common acronym in the storm chasing community, which stands for Supercell (Storm) Deprivation Syndrome. Plenty of storm chasers have written about this syndrome which grips us during the winter months, while storms are but a distant memory. You can see in Steve Miller's (TX) chart here, that we are approaching the time of highest incidence of this suffocating disorder.Unfortunately, during times of El Niño, such as now, the symptoms can be extremely severe. (At least there's severity somewhere right.) Some of my symptoms include, but are not limited to:

1. Innate fascination with the "little tornado" in the bathtub drain
2. Secretly watches videotape of "Twister" repeatedly (and know every line...)
3. Drags feet across carpet and touches metal object just to see the little CG lightning bolt.
4. Constantly testing alert tone on wx radio to make sure it is working
5. Simulates hail by throwing ice cubes up in air allowing them to fall upon the pavement, chase vehicle or the patient him/herself.

Unfortunately, the only known cure is to witness a supercell, in person... given the Dewvoid effect, I might be in big trouble.

OK, OK, I'll talk about the cold now. I woke up to 21°F temps and a hard freeze. Tomorrow, I will awaken to freezing temps. Snow is in the forecast for parts of Georgia, as a second ridiculously intense cold front presses in hot on the heels of the one we are just coming out of... I haven't seen a cloud in DAYS! Nothing but clear skies and teeth chattering cold. Initially, there was talk of snow flurries in my neck of the woods, but the National Weather Service in Tallahassee has done away with that talk, saying only that lagging rain up against the approaching cold front could offer sleet, but that isn't highly likely and the chance for snow is almost nil. Here is what they have said. ...

WITH IT BEING SO COLD THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF INQUIRIES AS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FROZEN PRECIP. DESPITE THE CONTINUATION OF BELOW-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES TODAY...IT IS ALREADY TOO WARM FOR SLEET OR SNOW AS SIGNIFICANT WARMING HAS BEGUN ABOVE THE SHALLOW COLD BOUNDARY LAYER. THE TROPOSPHERE WILL REMAIN TOO WARM TO SUPPORT FROZEN PRECIP UNTIL THE EARLY MORNING HOURS FRIDAY BEHIND THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT. ALL OF THE GUIDANCE SHOW THIS...AND THERE IS JUST THE SMALLEST OF CHANCES FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF LIGHT SLEET WHERE (IF) THE ARCTIC AIR REACHES ANY LAGGING PRECIP. (THE COLD LAYER WILL LIKELY BE TOO SHALLOW FOR SNOW AND NOT COLD ENOUGH FOR ACCUMULATING SLEET).

As for my initial concerns of rain with freezing temps causing an icy mess locally, the Weather Service has addressed that concern as well...

THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR WATER FROM TONIGHTS RAIN FREEZING ON THE ROADS FRIDAY MORNING IN AL AND GA. BECAUSE THE QPF IS LESS THAN A QUARTER OF AN INCH...AND BECAUSE GUSTY WINDS AND FALLING HUMIDITY ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP QUICKLY AFTER THE FRONTAL PASSAGE...THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH EVAPORATION AND GROUND ABSORPTION TO PREVENT THIS FROM BEING A SIGNIFICANT THREAT. IT WILL BE COLD AND BREEZY FRIDAY WITH HIGHS STRUGGLING TO REACH 40 DEGREES...AND WIND CHILL VALUES NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY.

Try and stay warm,
~Dewdrop

Severe weather headed east across much of the US, dropping snow and tornadoes...

Well, another freezing morning. At least this time, the bus arrived on time, so we didn't have to sit out there for forever-and-a-day this time, which is nice. It was a beautiful sunrise. It was nice to sit and watch it for once. There were layers of varied textures painting the sky, and as the sun rose on the eastern horizon (behind a patch of trees in my case), shades of golden yellow, salmon, pink and purple dressed the clouds in layers of magnificent brilliance, striking them at each moment with a fresh new color. I knew my camera wouldn't do it justice, so I just sat and absorbed the ambiance of the moment. What a glorious way to begin my day! Later in the morning, I decided to take a pic of what I was seeing through my sunglasses, and I snapped the picture above of the sun through my sunglasses. I think it's cool how the corner hasn't behind the sunglasses, so you can see the actual coloring of the sky in the same shot with the polarized view, very cool. Kind of interesting and not necessarily picturesque, but I like it, so you are stuck with it. Until I can get out and do a real shoot to get some wonderful pics, I will be posting spontaneous whim shots such as that one. SDS is bad. To see the full effects of SDS, check out a SDS treatment facility future patient's blog. Jeff's blog demonstrates the full impact and symptoms of SDS. You crack me up, Jeff! Thanks for the backlink. You rock! ;O)

This morning, I have seen two meso discussions released by the SPC. One was about a blizzard in the northern plains... ewww... the other talked about severe weather in Arkansas/Louisiana. Looks like Arkansas already has some powerful squall events rolling across that state. The SPC actually has much of the CONUS in a slight risk for severe weather, with the system moving across the nation. Looks like it's building some moisture now. We actually have the thunder line incorporating my neck of the woods, and Rick has been trying to pursuade me to plan to go after it tonight, but with Mini-Dew, it's just not likely. If anything, I can shoot from the backyard. I have had tremendous success with that in the past, so I will just go with what works. I would love for one of these systems to set up during a time when I can actually pursue them and a better photographic locale, but the Dewvoid prevails. The SPC still has a slight risk area highlighted to my west for Thursday (of course). With the speed that these early weather producers have had, I wouldn't be surprised if that area changes drastically as we get closer to Thursday, but it is all expected to deteriorate overnight. They mention that it could be strong to severe, but it looks like that will be more to the southwest of me...

FOR TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE GREATEST CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THIS AREA WILL BE LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...OR TOWARD MIDNIGHT. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES...MAINLY ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS.

Heck, they are mentioning a strong to severe possibility here for tonight, but come on... We know it will fizzle out before it gets here. It's the nature of the Dewvoid. They rather expect everything tonight to happen well to our Northwest. This looks like Alabama and Tennessee Mikes' system. Sorry, Rick and Meso Mike, looks like the Dewvoid might be "stealing your thunder"... again.

Anyone see that news story about the man who got 42 months in prison for using a stun gun on his 18 month old, supposedly to "toughen" him up? What kind of monster...? Anyways, I was completely repulsed by the story. What is wrong with some people?!

11:30 updated outlook (moderate risk added):1:30 update: Oh yeah, it is hitting the fan in the plains. A tornado watch has just been issued, and I just noted 3 mesos on one line tracking through Arkansas. Busy day out there.Toodles,
~Dewdrop